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Water quality service and calibration laboratory

Meteor develops major new water quality centre at Aldermaston

June 20, 2025/in News/by meteor

Meteor Communications has invested in a new water quality service centre that is 250% larger than the company’s previous facility. “This expansion reflects the rapidly growing demand for remote river and final effluent monitoring systems, and in particular the continuous water quality monitoring requirements of the Environment Act 2021, Section 82,” explains Managing Director, Matt Dibbs.

Driven by demand for continuous water quality data

Meteor provides a maintenance and calibration service for many of its customers, either as a service contract or as part of its ‘Water Quality as a Service’ offering. “This means that we have staff operating all over the UK, managing hundreds of multiparameter water quality sondes that mostly have to be swapped for recalibration on a monthly basis,” Matt explains. “We have therefore developed a highly efficient process in which large numbers of sondes can be cleaned, serviced and calibrated as quickly and as effectively as possible. However, such has been the demand for these services that we have invested in this new, much larger facility at Andromeda House in Aldermaston.

The company’s remote water quality monitors, known as ESNETs, were initially developed to meet the requirements of the Environment Agency for continuous river water quality monitoring. However, in recent years ESNETs have become popular with a much wider group of organisations, all of which are seeking to enhance the protection of UK rivers.

Multiple applications including Section 82 & Final Effluent Monitoring

Looking forward, the demand for ESNET systems is set to grow further. For example: in compliance with Section 82 of the Environment Act 2021; in final effluent monitoring; providing baseline monitoring data for the construction and operation phases of development, and as water and sewerage undertakers find new ways to exploit the benefits of real-time multiparameter water quality data.

Summarising the investment justification for Andromeda House, Matt says: “Accurate continuous water quality data is extremely important for many different stakeholders including regulators, water companies, farmers, consultants, engineers, researchers and members of the public such as wild water swimmers, anglers and paddle boarders. However, reliable measurements can only be achieved if the monitors are maintained and calibrated correctly, so Meteor is making the necessary investments in staff, training, equipment, vehicles and a highly efficient calibration and service laboratory. The development of the new Aldermaston facility means that we will be able to meet the demand for remote water quality monitoring for many years to come.”

Final Effluent Water Quality Monitoring Contract

Thames Water extends water quality monitoring contract

March 10, 2025/in News/by meteor

Meteor Communications, the industry leading provider of remote environmental monitoring technology, is delighted to announce that Thames Water Utilities Ltd has extended the term of its Framework Agreement for the supply of water quality monitoring equipment and services for Final Effluent Monitoring.

The Framework extension will run until September 2027, and covers the provision of ESNET monitoring systems with associated calibration, maintenance and data services via the MeteorCloud® platform.

Commenting on the contract extension, Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs said: “These systems are primarily used to monitor final effluent water quality at wastewater treatment plants. ESNET provides instant, real time, high resolution Final Effluent Water Quality data to enable Thames Water to gain enhanced visibility of their works’ operations, and effectively manage treatment processes.”

ESNET systems can be deployed in minutes and are carbon neutral in operation, with the majority solar powered. As such they represent an extremely cost-effective approach to providing high quality, real time water quality data from any location.

In response to demand from the water industry, regulators and environmental consultants, Meteor Communications is investing heavily in the resources that deliver remote water quality data. Matt says: “These commitments from Thames Water and others, reflect the confidence that customers have in our ability to deliver real-time data to enhance process efficiency and environmental protection.”

New Non-Executive Director at Meteor Communications targets continued expansion

March 4, 2025/in News/by meteor

Following successive years of vigorous growth, Meteor Communications, the specialist developer of remote environmental monitoring equipment and services, has appointed Thierry Bouzac as Non-Executive Director.

“This is an important step in the strategic development of our company,” explains Matt Dibbs, Managing Director of Meteor Communications. “Over the past few years, we have seen consistent, sustainable growth. We have been keenly focused on fulfilling demand for our remote cameras, water quality monitoring systems and AI driven data analysis. However, our future plans are equally ambitious, so Thierry will use his experience and expertise to help us organise and structure our business accordingly.”

Thierry Bouzac has Board level experience across a wide range of sectors including UK Water Utilities, encompassing both mature and early-stage, rapid-growth businesses. “I am thrilled to be joining Meteor at this critical moment in their development,” Thierry says. “The markets for Meteor’s monitoring solutions are driven by hugely important and topical issues such as climate change, severe weather and water pollution. Importantly, Meteor Communications is already acknowledged as a UK market leader and innovator in its target sectors, but the company has huge potential for future growth – in existing markets, adjacent markets in the infrastructure sector such as railways, and internationally.”

This appointment reflects Meteor’s commitment to enhance the business, ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Thierry says: “My role is to facilitate the journey, defining where we want to be in, say, five years’ time, and then progressively configure the business to achieve that goal.”

Kendal WwTW temporary outfall to River Kent

River Kent project near Kendal – a blueprint for Environment Act water quality monitoring?

March 15, 2024/in News/by meteor

A continuous water quality monitoring project has recently been completed on the River Kent near Kendal, in the UK’s Lake District. The monitoring was implemented for United Utilities by the environmental consultancy APEM, with Meteor Communications responsible for instrumentation installation and calibration, as well as real-time web-based data provision, event visualisation and reporting.

“Monitoring was required to help protect water quality during the operation of a temporary outfall pipe,” explains Joe Allaby, APEM’s Principal Aquatic Scientist. “The monitoring programme was a complete success, and I believe that water companies will be interested in this project because it represents a blueprint for the requirements of Section 82 of the Environment Act 2021.

“Multiparameter water quality monitors were installed upstream and downstream of a temporary discharge from United Utilities’ wastewater treatment works in Kendal to ensure that it did not negatively impact the water quality of the River Kent.

“Each monitor measured the key water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity and ammonium. In this project, we were also required to measure un-ionised ammonia, because of its potential effects on sensitive migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and sea trout (Salmo trutta).”

Passing through the Lake District National Park, the River Kent flows for around 20 miles into Morecambe Bay. The River Kent is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). In the section of the river addressed by this project, two protected species were monitored: bullhead (Cottus gobio) and white clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes).

Kendal WwTW outfall

As the main treatment facility for the Kendal area, the WwTW services a large residential and tourist population equivalent of around 90,000, discharging to the River Kent. Prior to December 2015, the effluent outfall pipe from the plant passed under the river adjacent to the WwTW and discharged approximately 1.3 km downstream, but this pipe was destroyed by the flooding that followed Storm Desmond in 2015. United Utilities therefore constructed a temporary outfall structure to maintain the ongoing operation of the works.

The temporary outfall was located much closer to the works, in an impounded reach upstream of a weir, where flow rates were lower. Consequently, the Environment Agency required as a condition of the permit for the temporary outfall, that United Utilities carry out upstream and downstream continuous water quality monitoring.

The environmental consultancy APEM was tasked with the monitoring and protection of the River Kent at Kendal whilst the temporary discharge was in operation. “At first, this mainly involved ecological investigations to check the health of the river,” explains APEM Principal Aquatic Scientist Joe Allaby. “However, in 2022, continuous multiparameter water quality monitoring systems were installed to provide access to continuous data 24/7. This included an upstream monitor, and two downstream monitors; one in slack water and the other in turbulent water, to give us a complete picture of any potential water quality effects from the temporary discharge.”

‘Water quality as a service’

APEM’s expertise was employed in the identification of suitable monitoring sites, and Meteor Communications was contracted to install and maintain the monitoring stations under a ‘water quality as a service’ (WQaaS) contract. Joe says: “It would have been possible to purchase the monitoring equipment, but WQaaS is ideal for temporary contracts, because Meteor is then responsible for maintaining the equipment.”

Under a WQaaS contract, Meteor Communications installs the monitors and then visits the site every 4 to 6 weeks to swap in pre-calibrated sondes. Meteor’s monitoring stations, known as ESNETs (environmental sensor networks), are fully equipped with solar panels and remote communications technology, so that collected data can be automatically transferred to the MeteorCloud® platform, which provides secure data visualisation, analysis and alarms.

ESNET systems are available in kiosk or portable formats, and sondes can be located in-river or within flow-through chambers measuring water which is pumped from the river. The Kendal sondes were located in the river, fixed securely to local infrastructure. Continuous water quality monitoring data are stored in the sondes and transferred every 30 minutes to the MeteorCloud web portal, providing APEM, United Utilities and the Environment Agency with real-time access to water quality data.

Continuous water quality monitoring enables the detection of water quality incidents as well as the detection of trends. “In the past, our consultants have used portable instruments, but we are increasingly being asked for continuous data,” explains APEM’s Jack Hambridge. “So, our partnership with Meteor Communications has worked very well, delivering accurate, reliable data for us and our clients.

“In addition to the quality of the instruments, what really sets Meteor apart is their calibration service. They have invested in a bespoke calibration laboratory and a team of field engineers, capable of servicing large numbers of sondes so that data are accurate and the ESNET systems are maintained in optimal condition.”

Proactive maintenance

Operating from a dedicated calibration laboratory, a team of Meteor’s engineers maintain water quality monitors all over the UK.

Meteor Communications was responsible for maintaining the condition of the monitoring equipment, and checking the validity of the data to ensure a continuous dataset was provided for almost 2 years. In addition, APEM checked the readings three times per day, every day, as part of its proactive maintenance service, which, if measurements exceed pre-set values, could also include mitigation measures such as aeration and fish rescue.

With the benefit of Meteor’s monitoring systems, APEM also provided United Utilities with weekly water quality reports, and incident notices with visual checks when any of the pre-set measurement values were breached. “This was important for all stakeholders,” explains Joe Allaby. “Continuous monitoring with real-time access to data meant that the water utility, the regulator and local residents could all rest assured that river water quality was being maintained, and that a rapid response would be available if an alert was issued.”

Meteor Communications MD Matt Dibbs says: “This project exemplifies everything that a water utility would need to comply with Section 82 of the Environment Act, and with over 700 ESNET systems already installed across the UK, we have the scale of operations to help utilities comply with their obligations.

“In applications such as this, it is great to see consultants using their expertise to leverage the value of continuous water quality data. I should mention however, that our water quality monitors are being used in many different water quality monitoring applications beyond storm overflows. For example, ESNETs are also used for final effluent monitoring and catchment surveys, as well as short-term investigations and research projects.”

Results

With almost two years of continuous monitoring upstream and downstream of the temporary discharge at Kendal, the data demonstrated that there were no significant detrimental effects on water quality. “We did detect occasional breaches of the values that we set as early warning levels for response,” explains Joe Allaby. “However, these were usually found to be due to sediment, or due to a dissolved oxygen dip during warm periods in the summer.

“For us, the continuous dataset was essential because it gave us peace of mind when things were going well, and provided an early alert when conditions changed, and a rapid response was necessary.”

ESNET water quality monitor installed in the Serpentine, Hyde Park, London

July 22, 2022/in News/by meteor

Looking to find ways to keep improving water quality, the managers of the Royal Parks have installed a continuous water quality monitor; an ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) system from the company Meteor Communications.

The Serpentine is monitored by the Environment Agency which collects samples for bacteriological analysis every week between May and September. However, the ESNET continuous water quality monitor was installed to improve understanding of the factors affecting water quality.

Covering an area of around 16 hectares, the Serpentine was created in 1730 by the wife of George 2nd, Queen Caroline. Originally fed by the River Westbourne and Tyburn Brook in the 1730s, the lake’s water was later pumped from the River Thames. Today, water is pumped from two boreholes from within Hyde Park.

The water quality monitoring system was installed in February 2022, measuring key parameters including Blue/ Green Algae, Chlorophyll, Temperature, Conductivity, pH, Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen. Measurements are taken continuously in real-time with updates every 30 minutes to the MeteorCloud™ web portal, with instant alerts for any issues that may influence bathing water quality. “The ESNET system will provide essential data for the future management of the lake,” explains the Royal Parks’ Dr Pawel Szynkarczuk. “We need this empirical data to better understand short- and long-term trends, as well as the factors affecting water quality. For example, a key advantage of a continuous time-series dataset is the ability to correlate water quality incidents with potential impact factors such as ambient temperature and heavy rainfall.

“The Environment Agency’s laboratory tests are more focused on bathing safety, whereas the wider variety of parameters monitored by ESNET will provide greater insights into the factors affecting water quality generally. The ESNET system will therefore allow us to make informed decisions, whilst also enabling us to measure the impact of any improvement measures.”

Water quality improvement measures currently include litter/debris removal as well as aeration at 24 points around the lake. However, the large population of wildfowl in Hyde Park is the likely cause of any water pollution; with raised nutrient levels during summer being an area that is carefully monitored. The water quality challenges presented by the wildfowl are compounded by Park visitors feeding the ducks and geese by throwing food into the water. Raised nutrient levels during summer are therefore carefully monitored, and an initiative is underway to try to alter visitor behaviour. “We have a campaign entitled ‘Help Nature Thrive’, which is designed to discourage overfeeding – it’s not good for the birds and it certainly isn’t good for water quality,” explains Assistant Hyde Park Manager, Ian Nightingale. “In the past, we have had to address raised nutrient levels on two occasions by dosing the water with a modified bentonite clay which binds with free reactive phosphorus. While this method appears to be effective, it is expensive, so the provision of continuous monitoring will enable us to fully evaluate the cost/benefits of any future water quality improvement measures.”

The ESNET system has been installed at the Environment Agency’s water sampling point, adjacent to the lake’s bathing area, and the water quality sensors are built into a compact water quality sonde which is permanently located beneath the water surface. In order to maintain the highest levels of accuracy, the sonde is routinely swapped out with a pre-calibrated sonde by Meteor Communications.

The entire system runs on very low levels of power, with a small solar panel meeting the power requirement of the entire ESNET system. “This is very important,” explains Meteor MD Matt Dibbs. “These systems are usually installed in remote locations for customers such as the Environment Agency and utility companies; frequently these sites have no pre-existing power or communications capability.

“We were recently consulted by the Environment Audit Committee and provided them with a live demonstration; explaining how ESNET systems are monitoring UK rivers and providing alerts when potential pollution incidents could threaten bathing water quality. We hope that the Serpentine ESNET system will deliver similar benefits; helping the Park managers to improve the lake’s water quality.”

Live data from remote cameras and water quality monitoring stations

Live data from remote monitoring stations on virtual WWEM booth 13/14 Oct 2021

September 8, 2021/in News/by meteor

Virtual WWEM 2021: 13-14 October

As a specialist provider of low power, remote cameras and water quality monitors, Meteor Communications will provide a virtual exhibition booth at this year’s Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring event, WWEM 2021. Visitors to the booth will be able to view live examples of continuous, real-time remote monitoring stations and integrated data in the Meteor Data Cloud.

The virtual conference and exhibition will run on 13^th and 14^th October 2021 and pre-registered delegates will be able to access the WWEM Conference sessions free of charge. However, delegates are invited to pre-book virtual meetings with Meteor Communications (either via the event website or directly via email) to ensure that appropriate expertise can be provided.

Delegates will be able to seek expert advice on how and where to install remote cameras for monitoring flood prevention assets for example, as well as how to apply the latest image recognition functionality.

Experts will also be available to provide help with water quality monitoring applications – where to install equipment; what to monitor, and how to obtain real-time data remotely. Visitors will be able to compare the relative merits of purchasing monitors and subscribing to the company’s ‘Water Quality as a Service’ offering.

Meteor Communications wins Scottish Water monitoring contract

July 22, 2021/in News/by meteornew

Meteor Communications has been awarded a multi-year shared framework agreement by Scottish Water for the provision of multi-parameter wastewater quality final effluent monitoring. The contract has an estimated value of £2 million and follows a competitive tendering process which began in November 2020.

Bidders were invited to tender for the supply of monitoring systems that are well suited to continuous remote monitoring of final effluent. Flexibility was required in terms of the monitoring parameters; the systems should be able to operate on low (ideally solar) power in a turbulent final effluent discharge. Secure access to cloud-based data was a key requirement, in addition to minimal levels of maintenance.

The data provided by the systems will allow operators to better understand plant performance and resilience, and provide further insights into performance trends, events and pollution incidents.

Following the contract award, Meteor Communications will supply ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) portable and kiosk systems in conjunction with Xylem EXO multiparameter sondes to measure final effluent water quality. The ESNET systems met the tender requirements and are ideal for this application. Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs explains: “Historically, the installation cost and on-site maintenance requirements of final effluent monitors at smaller wastewater plants have been preclusive, but the development of ESNET systems has meant that water companies can now equip smaller rural plants with a comprehensive monitoring capability.

“There are hundreds of ESNET systems delivering water quality data from all over the UK, providing customers with high-resolution, real-time, accurate data to manage their resources with greater confidence.”

“In addition to fixed applications, portable ESNETs can also be deployed in minutes; providing users with the opportunity to easily move the monitors from site to site in order to conduct short-term investigations and assessments.”

This contract award builds on the existing ESNET network in place with Scottish Water which is already providing data that can be viewed securely using the MeteorCloud™ portal on a tablet, PC or smartphone. The Meteor Data Centre is integrated with Scottish Water SCADA as well as upcoming platforms to deliver a futureproof solution.

As part of the framework, Meteor will provide training to Scottish Water personnel to build a comprehensive knowledge base around water quality monitoring to enhance understanding of works performance.

ESNET water quality monitoring systems - fixed or portable

Water Quality as a Service (WQaaS)

May 19, 2021/in News/by meteor

For decades, anyone needing to monitor water quality would purchase equipment to measure the parameters of interest. Today, Meteor Communications has challenged that model with their ‘Water Quality as a Service’ (WQaaS) solution.

“Ultimately, people monitor water quality because they need data,” explains Meteor’s MD Matt Dibbs. “So, we would happily sell them water quality monitoring systems, but many of our customers now prefer to just pay for the data – and let us manage the equipment.”

This radical approach has proved so popular with water companies, regulators and environmental consultants that hundreds of stations are now in the field, delivering continuous real-time, water quality data.

Matt says: “Our monitoring systems are ideal for providing real-time data from remote locations because they operate on very low power and wirelessly connect with the MeteorCloud secure web portal providing secure access for clients to view and download their own data.”

Wireless environmental sensor networks

Working with water companies and government agencies, Meteor Communications developed the ESNET (Environmental Sensor NETwork) autonomous water quality monitoring systems to allow rapid deployment with no requirement for pre-existing power or communication infrastructure. Modular and with multiparameter capability as well as built-in communications, ESNET systems deliver robust, high resolution real-time water quality data within minutes of deployment. The systems are available as a complete portable monitoring station or as part of a kiosk pumped system for semi-permanent or fixed installations. ESNET enables the rapid creation of monitoring networks, which is a particular advantage in the monitoring of catchments because it allows water managers to track the movement of water quality issues as they pass through a river system.

ESNET sondes are typically loaded with sensors for parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, ammonium, Blue Green Algae and chlorophyll. However, it is also possible to include other water quality parameters as well as remote cameras, water level and flow, or meteorological measurements. The addition of autosamplers enables the collection of samples for laboratory analysis; either at pre-set intervals and/or initiated by specific alarm conditions. This is a particular advantage for water companies and regulators because it enables the immediate collection of samples in response to a pollution incident, which informs mitigation measures and helps to identify the source of contamination.

How ‘Water Quality as a Service’ works

Under a WQaaS agreement, Meteor Communications installs ESNET stations at the customers’ sites, measuring pre-specified parameters. Meteor is then responsible for all aspects of the installation and retains ownership of the equipment. The provision of high intensity (typically 15 minute intervals) water quality data is assured by daily online checks that the stations are performing correctly. In addition, regular site visits are conducted for service and maintenance including monthly visits to swap the water quality sondes with duplicates which have been calibrated at Meteor’s dedicated Water Quality Services Hub near Basingstoke. “This ability to swap sondes is a vitally important feature of the service,” Matt explains. “By providing this service to all WQaaS customers there is a major benefit of scale, because this has enabled us to establish a dedicated sonde service and calibration facility that is able to process large batches of sondes quickly and effectively.”

Advantages of non-ownership model

The most important advantages are financial. With no capital costs, this model provides enormous flexibility for the users of the service because it means that they only have to spend money on the data that they need. In addition, there are no equipment depreciation costs and no requirement for investment in the resources that are necessary for ongoing service and calibration.

For many of Meteor’s customers, the main advantage is peace of mind, because continuity of data is usually vitally important. With staff from its Water Quality Services Hub checking outstations every day, combined with regular site visits, users of the system can rest assured that uninterrupted monitoring will generate a comprehensive dataset. On rare occasions, monitoring activities can be hampered by vandalism or even natural events, but the WQaaS system ensures that such issues are detected immediately, so that appropriate action can be implemented quickly to protect the continuity of data.

Risk reduction is also an advantage, because purchased equipment can fail, resulting in a requirement for repairs or replacement parts, which may cause a loss of data continuity. However, under the WQaaS scheme, Meteor is responsible for the system’s uptime, so spares for all of the ESNET’s modules are kept on standby as rapid replacements.

Where water quality monitoring is required for a specific project, the equipment can be tailored to meet precise needs, and at the end of the project the monitoring equipment is simply removed. This is ideal for consultants or researchers bidding for projects with a monitoring element, because it allows them to define the costs very accurately in advance.

Flexibility is the key benefit for water company users of the WQaaS model. Traditionally, final effluent water quality monitoring at wastewater treatment plants is undertaken by fixed equipment installed with appropriate capital works. This means that mainly larger plants benefit from continuous monitoring, so the major advantage of the ESNET systems is that they can be rapidly deployed at any site; delivering water quality insights later that same day. Then, once the investigation is complete, the equipment can be easily moved to a different plant.

Summarising Matt says: “This technology has been developed over many years, and with hundreds of systems already in the field we have invested heavily in the resources that are necessary to support these networks. This means that our customers do not need to make the same investment, which delivers efficiency and cost-saving benefits for everyone.

“We still sell ESNET systems to those for whom ownership makes more sense, but for many others the advantages of WQaaS are significant, because when the monitoring stops; so does the cost!”